Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea have all been eyeing up Hajduk Split forward Ante Vukusic.

But Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp wants him to play alongside Modric, rather than replacing his fellow Croat with Spurs adamant their prize asset is not for sale at any price.

They face stiff competition for the 20-year-old, who has already attracted interest from a host of Premier League clubs with Newcastle and Everton also watching him over the past few months.

His form last season when he scored 18 goals for Hajduk, also alerted several top clubs on the Continent but Vukusic, who is represented by Kenneth Shepherd of the Triple Sports Agency, has set his heart on following his boyhood idol Modric to England.

The youngster, who captained his club as a teenager, is already valued at £5m but that price is likely to soar in the coming months, which could persuade interested parties to make their move now rather than later.

A source close to the player said: “Ante wants to play in England and it’s only a matter of time before he does.

“All the top clubs already know a lot about him because of his performances for Hajduk last season.

“Comparisons with Modric are inevitable because he looks just as good as he did at the same age.”

Meanwhile, Redknapp admits Modric is “confused” about his future but is still determined to hang on to his star midfielder.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy insists Modric – who wants a move to Chelsea – will not be leaving this summer after holding showdown talks with the Croatian.

Redknapp came face to face with Modric yesterday at the club’s training base for the first time since the 25-year-old publicly declared his desire to move to Stamford Bridge.

Redknapp said: “He’s walked in today and is happy, but the kid’s a bit confused. Other teams want him but we want him here.

“It’s a difficult situation for him and I understand where he’s coming from.”